Chapter 10: The State-Owned Restaurant

Who is that?!

Help! Someone help me!

Chen Manman feigned calm and greeted the person, “Hello.”

Li Jiangyuan saw the calm look in Chen Manman’s eyes and looked a bit disappointed. “No way! You don’t even remember me? I’m Li Jiangyuan—your old deskmate! I heard you got married a few years ago?”

Hearing the name Li Jiangyuan, Chen Manman searched her inherited memories and recalled that he had indeed been the original owner’s high school deskmate—and maybe even had a crush on her back then. So she replied lightly, “Yes, I have two kids now.”

“We haven’t seen each other in years! What did you order? This meal’s on me!” Li Jiangyuan said as he lifted his leg to sit on the stool beside her.

“No need, really!” Chen Manman quickly refused, then noticed his work uniform. “Are you working at an auto repair factory now?”

“I took over my dad’s position. What about you?”

The two chatted casually until a sharp female voice suddenly interrupted them.

“Li Jiangyuan! What are you doing?! Who is she?!”

“Zhao Qiaoxiang? What are you doing here?” Li Jiangyuan looked surprised. Zhao Qiaoxiang was a blind date set up by his mother. He hadn’t been interested and had already turned her down, but Zhao Qiaoxiang refused to give up and kept pestering him, even going around claiming to be his girlfriend.

“You’re asking me why I’m here? I should be asking you! I’ve been looking for you at your factory every day and you’re always gone! Now I finally catch you—so busy, huh?! Who is this shameless vixen you’re eating with?!”

As she spoke, Zhao Qiaoxiang charged forward, reaching for Chen Manman’s hair.

Chen Manman deftly dodged and glanced at Li Jiangyuan, signaling him with her eyes but saying nothing.

Li Jiangyuan quickly stepped in front of Chen Manman. “What are you doing?! Zhao Qiaoxiang! I’ve told you many times—we’re not suitable. Stop making a scene here!”

Seeing how he protected another woman, Zhao Qiaoxiang flew into a rage. “Not suitable?! I’m your girlfriend! Your mom said we’re getting married next year! No wonder you keep hiding from me—you’re here sneaking around! That vixen must’ve seduced you!”

That instantly lit a fire in Chen Manman. She slammed the table and stood up. “Comrade, you better be responsible for your words! Everyone here has eyes—you’re falsely accusing me, calling me names like ‘vixen’ and ‘slut’? Let me tell you—I have a husband, I’m married! Say one more dirty word, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!” Her tone turned ice cold and bone-chilling.

The moment she spoke, murmurs rose from the surrounding crowd, all siding with Chen Manman.

Zhao Qiaoxiang wouldn’t back down. “Heavens! Is no one going to stand up for me?! In broad daylight, you’re all ganging up to bully me! Jiangyuan! I’m your girlfriend—are you going to let this slut treat me like this?! I’m going to report you all!”

She had no clue what she was saying—just thought shouting about “reporting” would scare people.

At first, the workers nearby were just watching for fun, whispering among themselves. But hearing her words, they grew annoyed. Ganging up? Everyone had clearly seen what had just happened. The man and the pretty woman had just run into each other and barely spoken a few words when this crazy woman barged in and caused a scene—she even tried to get physical!

There were still good-hearted people in this era.

“Listen, girl, with a temper like yours, no one’s going to marry you!” one annoyed auntie scolded Zhao Qiaoxiang, then turned to Chen Manman. “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart! I’ll stand as your witness.” The auntie gently patted Chen Manman’s hand.

Zhao Qiaoxiang screamed like a mad dog, “Ahhh! I can’t live like this! You’re all bullying me! I’m going to report you!”

“Zhao Qiaoxiang! Stop causing a scene!” Li Jiangyuan turned to Chen Manman with an apologetic look. “Manman, sorry about this. Let’s meet again another time.” Then he dragged Zhao Qiaoxiang away by the arm.

“Li Jiangyuan! You heartless scumbag! You—” Zhao Qiaoxiang kept cursing as she was pulled away.

Chen Manman was left speechless. Her good mood from finding treasures at the toll booth earlier that morning was completely ruined.

“Auntie, thank you so much just now~ Let me treat you to something,” Chen Manman said gratefully to the older woman who helped her.

“No need, no need. I just couldn’t stand that woman—what a nasty piece of work!”

As they chatted, Chen Manman learned the auntie’s surname was Qian, and her son was a chef at this very state-owned restaurant. Auntie Qian would occasionally come eat at her son’s workplace.

Before long, the noodles and dish that Chen Manman had ordered were served. The noodles looked light, garnished with a few chopped scallions. The stir-fried green pepper and pork was a large portion.

“Auntie, come sit and try some with me—I’ll order two more dishes.”

Auntie Qian quickly waved her hand, “No need, no need. I already ate before coming out. You enjoy. I’m just going to check on my son in the kitchen.” And off she went to the back of the restaurant.

Chen Manman didn’t insist. She picked up some noodles and took a bite. The noodles were soft with a strong wheat flavor—richer and more aromatic than the machine-made noodles of modern times.

She scooped half the stir-fried meat into her bowl, completing a green pepper pork noodle combo, then quickly finished the whole thing and drank a big mouthful of soup. Mmm! Pretty good!

She packed up the remaining dish and bought 10 steamed buns to go, then walked out of the state-owned restaurant.

Chen Manman wandered the streets for a while. She wanted to see if she could find the black market, but after a long search without spotting anything like what she imagined, she gave up. Guess I’ll go back. I’ll try again next time.

She slipped into a deserted alley, then entered her space (storage dimension), pulled out sunscreen and applied it. People in this era weren’t yet aware of sun protection—you could tell just by how tanned her eldest brother’s face was.

She put on her large straw hat, loaded the “shopping haul” she packed last night into a basket, tied it securely to the back of the bike, mounted the bicycle, exited the space, and headed home.

It had taken over two hours to get here earlier, but riding back only took about one hour—overall, very convenient.

Ding-ling ding-ling~ The clear sound of a bicycle bell rang outside the Chen family courtyard.

Yao Chunzhi had been brought back from her mother’s house by Chen Manman’s eldest brother at noon. At the moment, she was in the courtyard hanging laundry. Hearing the bell, she thought it was the mailman—Chen Manman’s second brother used to mail his monthly allowance regularly.

She opened the gate and saw her sister-in-law pushing a brand-new women’s bicycle. “Manman, did you go to the county? This bike…”

“Big sis-in-law, I just went to the county to buy a few things,” Chen Manman said casually.

Yao Chunzhi looked at the basket on the back seat, packed full: a large can of malted milk, a big tin of biscuits, a pile of bright red apples, assorted snacks, meat, soy sauce, clothes, even fabric. In the small front basket were two big bags of White Rabbit milk candies and several jin of brown sugar.

“A… a few things?”

This is “a few”? Does she think I’ve never seen the world?!

“And the bike?”

“Oh, a classmate helped me buy it. It wasn’t expensive,” she replied flatly.

But to Yao Chunzhi, that was a big deal. No matter how cheap the bike was, it was still a large purchase—and she hadn’t discussed it with the family. Clearly, her mother-in-law and Chen Manman’s second brother must have chipped in to help.

Yao Chunzhi replied with a sour tone, “Well… it is pretty.”